Contact element for a plug connector

p0001The invention relates to a contact element for a connector according to the features of the preamble of claim 1.

p0002Starting point as prior art is the <patcit id="pcit0001" dnum="DE102006053152B3"><text>DE 10 2006 053 152 B3</text></patcit>, Although the contact member of this known state of the art also includes a first base member, however, this base part is provided with two wave crests. The first base member, a second base member, also associated with two wave crests. This second base part a detent spring-material layer is added, with which the contact element is fixed in a contact chamber of a connector. Total offers from this prior art known contact element namely a structure which, however, is sufficient in terms of assembly and the contact reliability improvement.

p0003In contrast, it is an object of the invention to provide an improved contact element for a plug connection.

p0004Basically, a connector is constructed such that it comprises a housing having at least one, usually having a plurality of contact chambers. In these contact chambers contact elements are used and again, often latched two times in this contact chamber. The contact element itself is arranged at the end of an electrical line, wherein an electric conductor of the line with the contact element is electrically contacted, for example by soldering, crimping or the like.

p0005This object is achieved by the features of claim 1.

p0006The invention provides that in a contact area, the contact element is a resilient contact geometry has a contact element, said contact geometry is duplicated. This firstly forces the effort required to insert the mating contact element in the contact area is reduced, because both contact geometries are designed to be resilient. This resilient design of the contact geometry has the further advantage that permanently sufficient contact force exerted on the contact element, so that a reliable electrical contact between the contact area of ​​the contact element and the contact element is implemented.

p0007In development of the invention this contact geometry has a wavy course. In particularly advantageous manner, the undulating course of the resilient contact geometry symmetrically (viewed in section of the contact element) is formed. This advantageously the contact reliability is increased to a significantly greater extent than when the contact points of a wavy course of a contact geometry in the manner to face that of a wave crest fixed and the other wave crest, which is opposite, is made elastic.

p0008In development of the invention provides that the contact area is formed by a base part, from which a first spring contact part, and a second fixed base, from which a second spring contact part, the two base portions interconnected by a perpendicular thereto aligned connecting part are. This embodiment has the advantage on the one hand that such a contact element in a conventional method, such as a punching and bending method, can be produced quickly, cheaply and efficiently. At the same time can thus realize compared with the prior art significantly improved contact geometry, by using two fixed base parts are formed, on each of which projects a resilient contact portion, and the two base parts are connected together by a perpendicular thereto aligned connecting part.

p0009In development of the invention, a bent portion is provided at one end of the second base member. This angled section, the contact element is at least one set in the contact chamber of the connector when it is moved into there, was especially pushed. Thus, the mounting of such an improved connector can continue to improve.

p0010In the following the invention using an exemplary embodiment is explained in detail.

p0011The <figref idrefs="f0001">figures 1</figref> and <figref idrefs="f0002">2</figref> show, as far as shown in detail, a contact element 1 for a connector. Such a contact element 1 is manufactured from an electrically conductive material, for example, in a stamping and bending process from a sheetlike starting material.

p0012The contact element 1 has a crimp region 2, with which it is struck to an electrical conductor of a cable. The outer sheath of the line is passed between two wings 3 which are bent in the crimp area 2 after the determination of the electrical conductor to create in this way a strain relief. Instead of the Crimpbereiches 2, it is conceivable not to contact the electrical conductor or electrically not only by a mechanical crimping process, but also by other methods, such as by soldering, to the contact element. The wing 3 To relieve the strain may, but need not be present.

p0013The contact element 1 comprises a contact portion 4 which is designed as follows.

p0014Starting from the crimp region 2 a stationary first base member 5 is present, which may have to transverse slots in its axial extension, but not necessarily. Starting from the first base section 5 (precisely where the crimp area remote from the end) is a first resilient contact part 6 is present. This first resilient contact part 6 is realized for example by a crimping action. Furthermore, a second fixed base 7 is present. At the second fixed base part 7 a second resilient contact portion 8 is provided on the one hand. The second fixed base part 7 may comprise at least in its axial course one or more transverse thereto aligned slots.

p0015Both the first base part 5 and the second base member 7 are fixed to each other thereby formed, also with respect to the entire contact element 1, since they are connected to each other via a vertically orientated connecting portion. 9

p0016The two contact portions 6, 8 are thereby resiliently formed to extend from the first base member 5 and the second base portion 7 extending at one end into the interior of the contact region 4 in. This extension is realized in that a lug-shaped structure of the base portions 5, 7 are bent by approximately 180 °, so that by the contact portions 6, 8 are formed. The respective free end of the contact portions 6, 8 may be limited by the corresponding portions of the fixed base part 5,. 7

p0017The two contact portions 6, 8 are designed wave-shaped, whereby arising from this design in each case two wave crests, which each form a point of contact 10 for the mating contact element.

p0018The one base part, namely, the second base member 7, in its one end region nor an angled portion 11th Through this region 11 a type latching lug is formed, with which the contact element is set to 1 in a contact chamber, not shown in a connector, also not shown.

p0019In <figref idrefs="f0001">figure 1</figref> is provided projecting from the angled portion 11 is a projection which engages in an opening of the connecting part. 9 Thereby, the movement of the angled region 11, which is also resiliently mounted, starting from the second fixed base portion 7, defined limits.

p0020<figref idrefs="f0002">figure 2</figref> shows in section the contact region 4 in accordance <figref idrefs="f0001">figure 1</figref>, Is being shown schematically as contact element a contact pin 12th In the final assembled state of a plug-in connection of this contact pin 12 is present within the entire contact region 4 and is in electrical contact due to the contact points 10th Is the counter-contact element, in particular the contact pin 12 come between the contact points 10 into contact in the contact region 4, is due to the wave-shaped geometry and the resilient configuration of the contact portions 6, 8 causes them with their free end regions on the one hand on a stop 13 on the first fixed base part 5 and the other coming on a stop 14 of the second fixed base part 7 for conditioning. This increases the one hand the contact forces when the contact element, in particular the contact pin 12, located entirely within the contact area. 4 The contact element is preferably then completely in the contact region 4, if its free end the second (upon consideration of the<figref idrefs="f0002">figure 2</figref> has the right wave crest passed over with the corresponding contact points 10). This means that, for example, the contact pin when looking at the<figref idrefs="f0002">figure 2</figref> is inserted from left to right in the contact region 4, and firstly the first, that is, upon consideration of the <figref idrefs="f0002">figure 2</figref> the left pad 10 sweeps. When it is further inserted into the contact region 4, it passes over the right contact point 10, wherein at the beginning of insertion of the contact element in the contact region 4, the free ends of the two contact portions 6, 8 is not against the stops 13, 14 come to rest. Only when the two contact points 10 have been painted, and the mating contact member (contact pin 12) has reached its end position, the free ends of the two contact portions 6, 8 are pressed against the stops 13, 14, which causes first of all in during insertion of the mating contact element the contact area 4, the forces were less than they continue thereafter are needed to bring the counter-contact element in its final position. Thereby, the contact element is brought into contact not only improves durable, but also improved mechanically fixed in the contact area. 4

p0021The contact element according to the invention is characterized in other words, on the one hand by the fact that it comprises a crimping region with which it is struck on the electrical conductor of the line. In the contact area contact element of the invention has a contact geometry for a contact element, said contact geometry is duplicated. This contact geometry, in particular a contact pin as contact element has an undulating course, wherein the waveform is selected such that two crests in the direction of the counter-contact element, in particular of the contact pin, exhibit and thus bear this wave mountains of the counter-contact element. Simultaneously, a locking element is formed by the contact area with the contact element is arranged latching in the contact chamber of the plug connector. The two facing contact lugs of the contact element, having the waveform are arranged by the insertion of the counter-contact element in the insertion direction back toward the Crimpbereiches oriented and roughly run parallel to each other. Above the one end of the contact tab there is a bent portion forming the latch for locking the contact element in the contact chamber of the plug connector.

p0022The entire contact member is made of an electrically conductive material, for example a corresponding sheet material, which is initially designed flat and is fed to a stamping-bending process, so that the entire contact element can be produced in one piece by means of punching and bending process. Alternatively, it is conceivable, in particular the contact tabs and / or form the latching region as separate elements that are joined together according to their preparation, to a one-piece contact element.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

p0023<dl id="dl0001" compact="compact"><dt>1.</dt><dd>contact element</dd><dt>. 2</dt><dd>Crimping range</dd><dt>. 3</dt><dd>wing</dd><dt>. 4</dt><dd>contact area</dd><dt>. 5</dt><dd>base</dd><dt>. 6</dt><dd>First contact part</dd><dt>. 7</dt><dd>Second base</dd><dt>8th.</dt><dd>Second contact part</dd><dt>. 9</dt><dd>connecting portion</dd><dt>10th</dt><dd>contact point</dd><dt>11th</dt><dd>angled area</dd><dt>12th</dt><dd>Contact pin</dd><dt>. 13</dt><dd>stop</dd><dt>14th</dt><dd>stop</dd></dl>